Decorative article with display of flame

ABSTRACT

A decorative article, comprising a body portion having an exterior surface bearing one or both of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ornamentation, a hollow interior, a bottom for resting upon a support surface, and a top vertically spaced-apart from the bottom, the top including a first opening therein, and a vessel disposed in the first opening, the vessel defining a reservoir for holding a limited and exhaustible supply of a liquid or gelatinous flammable material which is ignitable to create a display of flame, and the vessel contacting an area of the body portion surrounding the first opening so as to be supported within the opening. At least one of the vessel and the body portion comprise at least one outlet opening defined therethrough communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow heated air to escape from the hollow interior of the body portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to multi-part, decorative articles capable of producing an aesthetically pleasing display of flame.

BACKGROUND

It has been heretofore known to provide, generally for purposes of illumination, apparatus such as oil lamps—comprising a vessel containing a flammable liquid and having a wick contacting the liquid, the wick extending from the vessel to permit liquid saturating the wick to be ignited—and votive candles—comprising a decorative vessel in which is disposed a candle. However, there remains a need for decorative articles which are selectively capable of producing an aesthetically pleasing display of flame.

SUMMARY

According to the present invention, there is provided a decorative article comprising: A body portion having an exterior surface bearing one or both of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ornamentation, a hollow interior, a bottom for resting upon a support surface, and a top vertically spaced-apart from the bottom, the top including a first opening therein; and a vessel disposed in the first opening, the vessel defining a reservoir for holding a limited and exhaustible supply of a liquid or gelatinous flammable material which is ignitable to create a display of flame, and the vessel contacting an area of the body portion surrounding the first opening so as to be supported within the opening. At least one of the vessel and the body portion comprise at least one outlet opening defined therethrough communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow heated air to escape from the hollow interior of the body portion.

In one embodiment, the at least one outlet opening comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the top thereof.

In another embodiment, the at least one outlet opening comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.

In another embodiment, the at least one outlet opening comprises each of at least one outlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the top thereof, as well as at least one outlet opening comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.

Per one feature of the invention, the decorative article according to any embodiment may further comprises at least one inlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the bottom thereof, the at least one inlet opening communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow ambient air into the hollow interior of the body portion.

Per one feature of the invention, the at least one outlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the top thereof is defined in the area of the body portion surrounding the first opening, each such opening being positioned so as to be at least partially uncovered by the vessel when the same is supported within the opening.

Per another feature of the invention, the area of the body portion surrounding the first opening comprises an upwardly projecting collar disposed about a periphery of the opening, the collar defining an upper edge for supportably receiving thereon a shoulder defined about a perimeter of the vessel. Further to this feature, the at least one outlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the top thereof comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the upwardly projecting collar. In one embodiment, the at least one opening comprises a notch opening onto the upper edge of the collar.

According to another feature of the present invention, each at least one outlet opening through the vessel comprise one or more slits, circular openings, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood with reference to the written description and drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 comprises an exploded perspective view of the decorative article according to a first embodiment thereof;

FIG. 2 comprises a detailed cross-sectional view of the decorative article according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the decorative article according to a second embodiment thereof;

FIG. 4 comprises a detailed cross-sectional view of the decorative article according to the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the decorative article according to a third embodiment thereof;

FIG. 6 comprises a detailed cross-sectional view of the decorative article according to the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the decorative article according to a fourth embodiment thereof;

FIG. 8 comprises a detailed cross-sectional view of the decorative article according to the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view of the bottom of the vessel of the decorative article according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a detailed perspective view of the vessel of the decorative article as employed in a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 comprises a detailed cross-sectional view of the decorative article according to the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a detailed perspective view of the decorative article as employed in a sixth embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 13 comprises a detailed cross-sectional view of the decorative article according to the embodiment of FIG. 12.

WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the present invention will be seen to most generally comprise a decorative article including a body portion 10 having an ornamentation-bearing exterior surface 11, a hollow interior 12, a bottom 13 for resting upon a support surface, such as a table top, mantle, etc. (not shown), and a top 14 vertically spaced-apart from the bottom, the top including a first opening 15 therein, and a relatively smaller vessel 30 disposed in the first opening 15 in the body portion 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, vessel 30 comprises an open-topped, cup-shaped article in which the liquid or gelatinous flammable material may be poured and then selectively ignited by a user to produce an aesthetically-pleasing display of flame confined only by the boundary of the vessel 30. The vessel 30 defines, as shown, a generally cylindrical portion terminating in a radially extending annular lip or flange 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 32 is continuous. However, it is contemplated that the flange 32 may be discontinuous, thereby defining two or more discrete, outwardly radiating shoulder portions.

Overall, the height of vessel 30 is generally less than the height of the body portion 10, so that the flange 32 rests upon an area of the body portion 10 surrounding the first opening 15 so as to support the vessel 30 within that first opening (FIG. 2). According to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, this area of the body portion can be seen to be defined by a radially-inwardly extending, annular lip or flange 16.

Body portion 10 may be made of any desired material, though according to the illustrated embodiments any one or more of ceramic, glass, shells and like materials are employed. Likewise, vessel 30 may be made from any material suitable for holding the gelatinous or liquid flammable material and permitting the selective ignition thereof. According to the illustrated embodiments, which are exemplary only and so not intended to be limiting, the vessel 30 is stainless steel.

During use—that is, when the gelatinous or liquid flammable material is ignited to create a pleasing display of flame—the inventor hereof has discovered that the body portion becomes uncomfortably hot. In order to address this problem, at least one of the vessel 30 and the body portion 10 comprise at least one outlet, opening defined therethrough communicating with the hollow interior 12 of the body portion in order to allow heated air to escape from the body portion. According to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the at least one outlet opening will be seen to take the form of a plurality of outlet openings 17 defined through the annular flange 16 of body portion 10. According to the exemplary embodiment, these outlet openings 17 are discrete, circular-shaped openings. However, it is contemplated that the geometry, size and number of outlet openings 17 will be selected in order to allow heated air to escape from the hollow interior 12 of the body portion 10 so that the exterior surface 11 of the article does not become uncomfortably hot by reason of heated air in the interior 12.

As best shown in FIG. 2, outlet openings 17 are positioned so as to be at least partially uncovered by flange 32 of the vessel 30 when the same is seated on the body portion 10. In this manner, heated air can escape from the hollow interior 12 via the outlet openings 17.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and also to FIG. 9, there are also optionally provided in the foregoing and any other embodiments of the present invention one or more inlet openings 18 defined through the body portion 10 proximate the bottom 13 thereof. It will be appreciated that these inlet openings 18 so positioned permit the influx of cooler ambient air from outside the body portion 10 into hollow interior 12 as heated air escapes via openings 17, thereby permitting the continuous circulation of cooler ambient air through the body portion 10.

Turning next to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is depicted another embodiment of the present invention according to which the at least one outlet opening comprises one or more (a plurality are shown) outlet openings 119 defined through a vertically upstanding, cylindrically-shaped neck portion 120 of the body portion 110. As shown best in FIG. 4, the openings 119 permit heated air to escape from the interior space 112 of the body portion 110 via the space defined between the inner surface of the neck portion 120 and the exterior surface of the vessel 130.

According to a still further embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the at least one outlet opening takes the form of a plurality of notches 221 defined in the upstanding neck portion 220 of the body portion 210. As depicted, notches 221 each open onto the upper edge of the neck portion 220. As shown best in FIG. 6, the notches 221 permit heated air to escape from the interior space 212 of the body portion 210 via the space defined between the inner surface of the neck portion 220 and the exterior surface of the vessel 230.

In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the at least one outlet opening takes the form of a plurality of outlet openings 322 defined through the body portion 310 about the perimeter of neck portion 320. Additionally per the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the at least one outlet opening further takes the form of one or more (a plurality are depicted) rectangular slits 333 provided about the circumference of the vessel 330. It will be appreciated that these slits 333 are positioned sufficiently near the top of the vessel 330 so as to permit a useful quantity of the gelatinous or liquid flammable material to be contained in the vessel 330.

As will be appreciated from FIG. 8, the combination of openings 322 and slits 333 permit heated air to escape from the interior space 312 of the body portion 310.

Turning next to FIGS. 10 through 13, it is contemplated that the at least one outlet opening may be provided in one or both of the body portion and the vessel. Accordingly, there is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 an exemplar wherein the at least one opening takes the form of a plurality of openings 422 defined through the body portion 410, and wherein further the vessel 430 is like that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, including no such outlet openings. Alternatively, FIGS. 12 and 13 depict an embodiment wherein the body portion 510 includes no outlet openings for allowing heated air to escape. According to this embodiment, one or more such outlet openings are provided through the vessel in the form of openings 533. As shown, openings 533 are round, rather than the slits 333 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8. It will be appreciated that such outlet openings through the vessel may take any form suitable to the communication of heated air from the interior space 512 of the body portion 510 to the exterior of the body portion.

Further, it is contemplated as noted that the optional inlet openings 18 positioned proximate the bottom of the body portion (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 9) may be used in combination with any of the foregoing embodiments of the present invention—i.e., where the at least one outlet openings is provided in one or both of the vessel and body portion.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the vessel according to any of the foregoing embodiments is freely removably receivable in the first opening of the body portion. If freely removable, the body portion may, with the vessel so removed from the first opening, serve as a decorative vase for holding dried flowers or the like, which may be disposed in the first opening.

The flammable material, which is exhausted with use but can be selectively replenished by the user's adding more to the vessel, may be any of a number of commercially available materials. Liquid (such as lamp oil) or gelatinous flammable materials (such as the alcohol gel commercially available from Hydrite Chemical Company (Brookfield, Wis.)) are well suited to the present invention.

The ornamentation on the exterior surface of the body portion may, according to any of the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, comprise any of two-dimensional ornamentation, such as, by way of non-limiting example, painted or glazed designs, three-dimensional ornamentation, such as, by way of non-limiting example, sculpted designs or patterns, or a combination of three and two-dimensional ornamentation.

Of course, the preceding specification is merely illustrative of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many additions and modifications to the present invention, as set out in this disclosure, are possible without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of this invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A decorative article, comprising: a body portion having an exterior surface bearing one or both of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ornamentation, a hollow interior, a bottom for resting upon a support surface, and a top vertically spaced-apart from the bottom, the top including a first opening therein; a vessel disposed in the first opening, the vessel defining a reservoir for holding a limited and exhaustible supply of a liquid or gelatinous flammable material which is ignitable to create a display of flame, and the vessel contacting an area of the body portion surrounding the first opening so as to be supported within the opening; and wherein at least one of the vessel and the body portion comprise at least one outlet opening defined therethrough communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow heated air to escape from the hollow interior of the body portion.
 2. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet opening comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the top thereof.
 3. The decorative article of claim 2, further comprising at least one inlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the bottom thereof, the at least one inlet opening communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow ambient air into the hollow interior of the portion.
 4. The decorative article of claim 3, wherein the at least one outlet opening further comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.
 5. The decorative article of claim 2, wherein the at least one outlet opening further comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.
 6. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet opening comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.
 7. The decorative article of claim 6, further comprising at least one inlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the bottom thereof, the at least one inlet opening communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow ambient air into the hollow interior of the body portion.
 8. The decorative article of claim 6, wherein each at least one outlet opening defines a slit.
 9. The decorative article of claim 6, wherein each at least one outlet opening defines a circular-shaped opening.
 10. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet opening comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the area of the body portion surrounding the first opening, each at least one outlet opening in the area of the body portion surrounding the opening being positioned so as to be at least partially uncovered by the vessel when the same is supported within the opening.
 11. The decorative article of claim 10, further comprising at least one inlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the bottom thereof, the at least one inlet opening communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow ambient air into the hollow interior of the body portion.
 12. The decorative article of claim 11, wherein the at least one outlet opening further comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.
 13. The decorative article of claim 10, wherein the at least one outlet opening further comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.
 14. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein the area of the body portion surrounding the first opening comprises an upwardly projecting collar disposed about a periphery of the opening, the collar defining an upper edge for supportably receiving thereon a shoulder defined about a perimeter of the vessel; and wherein further the at least one outlet opening comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the upwardly projecting collar.
 15. The decorative article of claim 14, further comprising at least one inlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the bottom thereof, the at least one inlet opening communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow ambient air into the hollow interior of the body portion.
 16. The decorative article of claim 15, wherein the at least one outlet opening further comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel.
 17. The decorative article of claim 14, wherein the at least one opening comprises a notch opening onto the upper edge of the collar.
 18. The decorative article of claim 17, further comprising at least one inlet opening defined through the body portion proximate the bottom thereof, the at least one inlet opening communicating with the hollow interior of the body in order to allow ambient air into the hollow interior of the body portion.
 19. The decorative article of claim 18, wherein the at least one outlet opening further comprises at least one outlet opening defined through the vessel. 